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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Been asked to park my car further away from my house to be more convenient for person's guests

105 replies

ParkingFeud · 07/10/2022 09:01

We rent a terraced house on a green with no parking. There is space outside our house for one car and the other has to go somewhere on the green. Someone on the other side with a drive has just asked me not to park my car near their house as it is inconvenient for their guests and work men. They wanted me to park it on a separate street further away from where we live. Was I being unreasonable to tell them quite sharply that I would love to be able to afford a house with a drive but there's a housing crisis and I can't. So my car can be parked anywhere legally that I fancy. I don't understand people who think they own the road outside their houses.

OP posts:
HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 07/10/2022 11:04

I think we need a bit more info OP …

FacebookPhotos · 07/10/2022 11:07

If work was being done I'd keep the space clear for a short time, and my neighbours would do the same for me. Though all my neighbours would only ask if they were already using their drive for tradespeople and needed an extra spot (eg having an electrician and plumber in on the same day). They can absolutely whistle for guests though.

YouSirNeighMmmm · 07/10/2022 11:09

ChilliBandit · 07/10/2022 09:06

Was it a one off request, as in we are having workmen today and they need space for their big machinery would you mind parking elsewhere today? Or was it never park here, I am entitled enough to think I own this piece of road. If it’s the former I’d accommodate it, if the later you are not being unreasonable.

The key question!

EllaPaella · 07/10/2022 11:11

FacebookPhotos · 07/10/2022 11:07

If work was being done I'd keep the space clear for a short time, and my neighbours would do the same for me. Though all my neighbours would only ask if they were already using their drive for tradespeople and needed an extra spot (eg having an electrician and plumber in on the same day). They can absolutely whistle for guests though.

Agree. A one off request if their drive will be full because of their car and visitor and they would like the workman to be able to park near their house is not such a drama. A bit more info needed.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 07/10/2022 11:14

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/10/2022 10:54

Why was she wrong to be sharp?

It's a public road with no parking restrictions - she has every right to park there.

Show quote history

The response posted by OP was not abusive, nor was it rude. She makes an entirely valid point. That her tone was exasperated when she made it is unlikely to do any harm: merely confirms that she's not a complete pushover who will roll over and capitulate because a CF neighbour said 'jump'.

You find, in life, that those who make these kinds of unreasonable demands don't appreciate it it when people bend to them; quite the opposite, as they're likely to despise you for your trouble.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 07/10/2022 11:17

EllaPaella · 07/10/2022 11:11

Agree. A one off request if their drive will be full because of their car and visitor and they would like the workman to be able to park near their house is not such a drama. A bit more info needed.

Show quote history

Irrelevant. They're asking her to park in an adjoining street.

It's a barmy request in any event. If OP doesn't park there, someone else likely will.

TabithaTittlemouse · 07/10/2022 11:18

Your reaction was a bit ott. You could have just said no.

Is it for today? Forever?

EL8888 · 07/10/2022 11:19

MoggyP · 07/10/2022 09:03

I think you were wrong to be sharp.

And of course you would not want to inconvenience the same person all the time, so I hope you do park in a variety of other places reasonable convenient to you. Neighbourliness and all that

The neighbour has turned up quickly!

Whammyyammy · 07/10/2022 11:21

MoggyP · 07/10/2022 09:03

I think you were wrong to be sharp.

And of course you would not want to inconvenience the same person all the time, so I hope you do park in a variety of other places reasonable convenient to you. Neighbourliness and all that

🤣🤣🤣 this has to be a joke. No one owns that road, it's public.

Whammyyammy · 07/10/2022 11:24

I'm shocked that each time a post like this comes on ar the amount of CF Entitled people that belive the public road outside their house is for their sole use only.

Want your own parking then buy a houe3 with a drive, if not the public road is fair game for ANYONE to park on.

balalake · 07/10/2022 11:31

Work men for a day or two, say if they have large tools, reasonable. Not otherwise.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/10/2022 11:33

I wouldn't park further away, but I wouldn't always park outside the same person's house either.

DameHelena · 07/10/2022 11:37

YANBU.
For tradies I can understand them wanting to be able to park close to their house; but, if I understand rightly, they have a driveway and a car, yes? So they can just park THEIR car somewhere else so the tradies can use their drive.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 07/10/2022 11:40

If you're parked legally on the road, and not causing an obstruction, then you can park where you like, although if there was a specific request for access for a day when a neighbour was having work done and multiple tradespeople needed to park near the house, I'd be inclined to accommodate that.

However, I'd also point out (because you haven't been very explicit about your situation, and this is vaguely reminiscent of a recent issue near me) that parking legally on a road does not include pulling off the road onto a field access, or access point for a bridleway, byway or footpath. These are often private property and obstructing tractor access into fields, or a PROW, is really obnoxious.

PuppyMonkey · 07/10/2022 11:42

Eh? You’re parking on a green? As in like a field? A patch of grass? Eh?

Def needs a diagram.

Dixiechickonhols · 07/10/2022 11:42

For one day and a delivery etc I would if they asked politely but long term no it’s not their space.

HaggisBurger · 07/10/2022 11:43

KosherDill · 07/10/2022 09:06

Tell them to park at a distance & leave their own driveway clear for visitors.

This!!!

OhMondayMonday · 07/10/2022 11:47

MoggyP · 07/10/2022 09:03

I think you were wrong to be sharp.

And of course you would not want to inconvenience the same person all the time, so I hope you do park in a variety of other places reasonable convenient to you. Neighbourliness and all that

Who has the mental energy every day to be thinking about where to park due to which of the neighbours’ turn it is to be convenienced today??

OP is quite right to have said what she did. Neighbour should be parking their car further away and letting the worker use their space. To have asked this is a neighbour is a bit cheeky and entitled.

TheSheerCheekOfSomePeople · 07/10/2022 11:52

I think you are being unreasonable given that you have parking for one car but you have TWO even though you chose to rent or buy a house where parking is difficult. I think they are being unreasonable for not asking whether you would mind awfully if they let you know specific days in advance that they need access for workmen or guests to park further away. A blanket request at all times from them is a bit much.

No they don't own the road, but neither do you and it sounds as though you are monopolising the bit outside their house with your second car and this is unreasonable. You don't sound like the sort of neighbour who would be up for the necessary level of give-and-take where houses are close together and parking is tricky and I am glad you are not my neighbour.

What if their guests are older or disabled or have small children and need to be near their door? What if the workmen need easy access to their van during the day due to the nature of the work? Do you still not care then?

YABBU.

MzHz · 07/10/2022 11:58

You should have just laughed in their face and said, not a chance, but nice try - YANBU

MzHz · 07/10/2022 12:01

What if their guests are older or disabled or have small children and need to be near their door? What if the workmen need easy access to their van during the day due to the nature of the work? Do you still not care then?

Now I'M laughing. A guest does not trump a local resident. not now, not ever. there is literally NOTHING stopping Mrs Driveway from moving HER car to allow her guests to park nearby the house if the visitors are infirm or have kids who can't walk 100m or melt in the rain.

Jaxhog · 07/10/2022 12:04

YANBU! It reminds me of when we lived in a similar situation, where I parked my car outside my house and my neighbour asked me to move it so he could 'swing into' his drive!! He actually wrote me a long and abusive letter. We (all the other neigbours) eventually built a bund around the green to stop him.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/10/2022 12:05

MN clearly demonstrates how many mugs there are in the world.

Ithoughtthiswastherehearsal · 07/10/2022 12:10

YANBU.

Maybe their guests and workmen are inconvenient for other residents?!!

Ithoughtthiswastherehearsal · 07/10/2022 12:15

MzHz · 07/10/2022 12:01

What if their guests are older or disabled or have small children and need to be near their door? What if the workmen need easy access to their van during the day due to the nature of the work? Do you still not care then?

Now I'M laughing. A guest does not trump a local resident. not now, not ever. there is literally NOTHING stopping Mrs Driveway from moving HER car to allow her guests to park nearby the house if the visitors are infirm or have kids who can't walk 100m or melt in the rain.

I have a small driveway for 1 car, on street parking is a nightmare.

If I have a disabled guest / workman who needs constant van access, know what I do?

I get in my car and I drive it round the corner to a different street where there’s lots of surplus parking, so that my guest/workman can use my drive. I do this even where there are still a couple of on street spaces by my house.

Because I don’t want to piss off the neighbours who don’t have driveways and I don’t think it should be their problem that I’ve chosen to have a guest/workman.